The Last Shadows.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.

Ps. xxxvii. 37.

Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be NUMB. Xxiii. 10.

like his.

WHEN around the couch, long tended,

Heavier shadows settle down;

And the zephyr comes unwilling,
And the sunlight seems to frown;

Pain's familiar sense is duller;

And the sick heart's feeble flow,
Like a caged bird, faint and frighted,
Seems to flutter to and fro;

When pale shadows troop perpetual
O'er the half-closed, heavy eye;

And a great Thought, dim and dreadful,
Ever whispers,―Thou must die!

Whispers lone, and low, and solemn,
Yet it filleth all the sky;

'Tis the surge of Time's far ocean,
And its anthem,―Thou must die!

Then, when earthly hope is ashes;
Then, when earthly aid is dust;
If the Saviour be our portion,

Faith and Grace our stay and trust;

Let the worn heart throb to slumber With a sleep that ne'er shall wake: Let the surge-like voices whisper: Angel hymns shall o'er them break!

For the orb, to us declining,

Dawns within a brighter sphere; And the soul, star-born in Heaven,

Leaves a lingering glory here!

Birthday Greetings.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.

Ps. xix. 2.

PAST and lost the lightsome childhood,

Past the fair and frolic May;

As the red leaves strew the wildwood,
Time's sere foliage strews our way.

Every day and every hour,

Kindled from the Life above,

Is a miracle of power,

Is a miracle of love.

That is not our morning natal

Which has given us to earth, With its phantoms false and fatal: Life crowns but the spirit-birth.

Suns that perish cannot measure
Spirit-life's eternal day :

Earthly pain and earthly pleasure,
What, unto its bliss, are they?

May that life, the rich and real,

Blest and blessing, still be thine;

Then, earth's brief and dark ideal

Will, with deathless radiance, shine.

Not for sin, and not for sorrow,

Do God's worlds of glory shine; Diamonds on the brow of morrow, Lo, they beam with joy divine!

May thy years, revolving duly,
Thus in Duty's orbit move;
Serving trustingly and truly,
Shining still with joy and love.

Be each day a holy Birthday,
Life that fadeth not away;

Day that dies not with the earth-day,

God that life, and Heaven that day!